BILL NUMBER: SB 1186	CHAPTERED  10/10/99

	CHAPTER   640
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   OCTOBER 10, 1999
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR   OCTOBER 5, 1999
	PASSED THE SENATE   SEPTEMBER 10, 1999
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY   SEPTEMBER 8, 1999
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   SEPTEMBER 3, 1999
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   AUGUST 23, 1999

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Ortiz
   (Coauthor:  Assembly Member Steinberg)

                        FEBRUARY 26, 1999

   An act to add Section 41865.5 to the Health and Safety Code,
relating to air quality, and making an appropriation therefor.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1186, Ortiz.  Rice straw.
   (1) Existing law, the Connelly-Areias-Chandler Rice Straw Burning
Reduction Act, among other things, required the State Air Resources
Board and the Department of Consumer Affairs, on or before September
1, 1992, to establish an advisory committee to develop a list of
priority goals for the development of alternative uses of rice straw
for the purpose of developing feasible and cost-effective
alternatives to rice straw burning.
   This bill would require the State Air Resources Board, in
consultation with the Department of Food and Agriculture, on or
before January 1, 2001, and in cooperation with specified others, to
prepare and submit to the Legislature recommendations for ensuring
consistency and predictability in the supply of rice straw for
cost-effective uses, as provided.
   (2) This bill would provide that specified funds appropriated
pursuant to the Budget Act of 1998 to the state board for purposes of
developing rice straw demonstration projects, which were not
encumbered or otherwise expended during the 1998 fiscal year, shall
be available for encumbrance by the state board during the 1999-2000
fiscal year for purposes of the rice straw demonstration project.
   Appropriation:  yes.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 41865.5 is added to the Health and Safety Code,
to read:
   41865.5.  Notwithstanding Section 7550.5 of the Government Code,
on or before January 1, 2001, the State Air Resources Board, in
consultation with the Department of Food and Agriculture, and in
cooperation with the State Energy Resources Conservation and
Development Commission and the California Integrated Waste Management
Board, shall prepare and submit to the Legislature recommendations
for ensuring consistency and predictability in the supply of rice
straw for cost-effective uses, including, but not limited to,
recommendations for methods of harvesting, storing, and distributing
rice straw for off-field uses.  Off-field uses may include, but are
not limited to, the production of energy and fuels, construction
materials, pulp and paper, and livestock feed.
  SEC. 2.  Notwithstanding subdivision (a) of Section 2.00 of the
Budget Act of 1998 (Ch. 324, Stats. 1998) or any other provision of
law, the funds appropriated for support of the State Air Resources
Board pursuant to Item 3900-001-0489 of Section 2.00 of the Budget
Act of 1998 that were not encumbered or otherwise expended during the
1998-99 fiscal year shall be available for encumbrance by the state
board during the 1999-2000 fiscal year for purposes of the rice straw
demonstration project established by Chapter 4.5 (commencing with
Section 39750) of Part 2 of Division 26 of the Health and Safety
Code.
